I turn 40 in August and debating on what to race in the fall. Originally I was thinking of a fall Marathon but now I’m thinking of scratching that and running shorter road races and XC in the fall. With four young kids at home finding time for Marathon training is hard.

I never considered myself a marathoner (1500m runner D3 in college) ran my first one two years ago 3:01 and my second last fall 2:50. My fastest 5k last year was 17:10 (middle of marathon build up).

One thing that I used to motivate myself when I was coming back at your age was to use VDOT and age grade calculators to see how close to my old college fitness I could get.

For example, let's say that you were a 4:00 1500m runner in college. That means that your VDOT was about 70, which rates out to a 14:53 5000m run. But since you were more 1500 oriented, let's round that up to 15:15 or so, just for argument's sake. Based on the age grade calculators, that 15:15 as a collegiate would be the equivalent of a 16:10 at 40 years old. 16:10 (or whatever the equivalent may be based on your actual times instead of my hypothetical times) may seem out of range, but you could use it as a long term goal (2 years from now) and set some intermediate goals of 16:50 this year, 16:30 next year, and 16:10 the year after.

Smoove wrote:One thing that I used to motivate myself when I was coming back at your age was to use VDOT and age grade calculators to see how close to my old college fitness I could get.

For example, let's say that you were a 4:00 1500m runner in college. That means that your VDOT was about 70, which rates out to a 14:53 5000m run. But since you were more 1500 oriented, let's round that up to 15:15 or so, just for argument's sake. Based on the age grade calculators, that 15:15 as a collegiate would be the equivalent of a 16:10 at 40 years old. 16:10 (or whatever the equivalent may be based on your actual times instead of my hypothetical times) may seem out of range, but you could use it as a long term goal (2 years from now) and set some intermediate goals of 16:50 this year, 16:30 next year, and 16:10 the year after.

Admittedly a bit hokey, but it is an option.

I am doing the same thing, only with my HS times. No way at 42 I can reach my university times, even age graded.

I like the idea of using age grade calculations and have been looking at goals based on that. What makes the marathon appealing is I can still PR and it's only one race. Finding time away for xc and road races is difficult multiple weekends is hard.

Your goal should be making sure you are providing for your family, your four young kids do well in school and sports and your that your relationship with your spouse is strong. With the time left for yourself, make sure you stay healthy. Personal time and running goals can wait until your kids are more self sufficient.

joedirt wrote:Your goal should be making sure you are providing for your family, your four young kids do well in school and sports and your that your relationship with your spouse is strong. With the time left for yourself, make sure you stay healthy. Personal time and running goals can wait until your kids are more self sufficient.

joedirt wrote:Your goal should be making sure you are providing for your family, your four young kids do well in school and sports and your that your relationship with your spouse is strong. With the time left for yourself, make sure you stay healthy. Personal time and running goals can wait until your kids are more self sufficient.

While I agree, there is nothing wrong with trying to put the hammer down on a 10k with limited time.

joedirt wrote:Your goal should be making sure you are providing for your family, your four young kids do well in school and sports and your that your relationship with your spouse is strong. With the time left for yourself, make sure you stay healthy. Personal time and running goals can wait until your kids are more self sufficient.

Don't you think that is understood? What an A-hole of a thing to say.

I've seen enough posts on the boards from runners advocating that individuals divorce their spouses because they don't share the view that running 60-100 miles a week is all that beneficial to their relationship or their relationship with their children to not instantly assume that the viewpoint is readily understood. In my own profession / situation I would find it next to impossible to simultaneously optimize running goals alongside raising four children to the best of my abilities, being a good provider and being a good partner to my wife. I ascribe to the belief that no man can serve to masters, so I no longer try to satisfy the competitive running beast.

At this point in my life (40+ with kids) I am what many on this board would consider a hobby jogger and I feel no shame in that. My late teens and twenties belonged to me, and I accomplished what I feel are some pretty great goals (high school state champion, 4 years of division 1 track lettering at two institutions, winner of multiple road races, trail races and even a couple triathlons). When my wife and kids became a part of my life, my goals changed. I began to act in our collective self interest and less in my own.

Now I measure myself with different goals, and I feel I am doing pretty well at those as well: daughters are consistently among the top 5% in the nation in math and science for their grade level (reading at a 6th grade level in 2nd grade), soccer teams that I coach win a lot more games than they lose and my kids are the highest scorers on the team and are definitely the fastest (in a coed league), our income is in the top 1% of the town I live in, and my wife and I have been happily married for close to 15 years. My running times are nowhere near where they once were, but I am not fat and don't really care about trying to run fast at this point in my life.

Now I'm not saying it is impossible for the OP to be running sub 2:50 marathons at 40 and still be accomplishing those other goals (if he is in a high paying profession that is not all that demanding time wise with a stay at home spouse, it is possible, but not as likely). The wall street journal did a piece years ago called "A workout ate my marriage" that is a worthwhile read for those that feel their working out doesn't have a negative impact on their family.

joedirt wrote:At this point in my life (40+ with kids) I am what many on this board would consider a hobby jogger and I feel no shame in that.

My running times are nowhere near where they once were, but I am not fat and don't really care about trying to run fast at this point in my life.

Calm down, bro. I agree with you on many points, but don't set up a false dichotomy of either being a good husband & father OR a runner with goals. Having goals and race times to hit is a great motivator and is quite honestly what keeps me training. Training helps me stay healthy. Staying healthy makes me a better husband and father. I'm 42 and had a great HS, collegiate, and post-collegiate running career, too. Now I train to hit age-graded times and can keep my running balanced with my other responsibilities.

The OP is asking about alternatives to the marathon. He specifically says "With four young kids at home finding time for Marathon training is hard." Many of the suggestions are great ideas for him to stay motivated, training, and racing, while at the same time being a good husband and father. You don't need to accost posters with guilt for training and having goals. It sounds like you don't have any racing goals. That's fine that you "measure yourself by other goals." but that doesn't mean those of us who still enjoy competition are not fulfilling our primary responsibilities.

Join a club. Race the circuit. Keeps things interesting, competitive. Times don't matter so much as beating other clubs. You're fast enough (depending on where you are) that you'll likely be scoring or close to scoring for a masters club - which also provides some motivation to keep the speed up.

Race some summer track and road miles too. If you're looking to escape some winter weather there is the Masters 8K Road Champs in Brea, CA at the end of Feb. Lotta competition, close to LA. Could be a nice family trip.